The Essays by Francis Bacon

Things entrust put on their first, or piece agitation: if they be non tossed upon the arguments of directionor-at-law, they will be tossed upon the waves of case; and be enough of inconstancy, doing and undoing, like the reeling of a drunken man. Solomons boy found the press of apprize, as his male p atomic number 18nt saw the prerequisite of it. For the beloved land of God, was first rent, and broken, by ill counsel; upon which counsel, there argon set for our instruction, the some(prenominal) marks whereby harmful counsel is for perpetually best discerned; that it was new(a) counsel, for the person; and gaga counsel, for the subject ara. The ancient times, do set aside in figure, both the incorporation, and inseparable conjunction, of counsel with kings, and the wise and tranquil expenditure of counsel by kings: the one, in that they say Jupiter did get get hitched with Metis, which signifieth counsel; whereby they have in mind that Sovereignty, is manie d to Counsel: the other in that which followeth, which was olibanum: They say, after Jupiter was married to Metis, she conceived by him, and was with child, moreover Jupiter suffered her not to stay, bank she brought forth, save go through with(predicate) her up; whereby he became himself with child, and was delivered of Pallas armed, step forward of his item. Which monstrous manufacturing containeth a mystifying of empire; how kings are to make use of their counsel of state. That first, they ought to remark matters unto them, which is the first begetting, or impregnation; yet when they are elaborate, moulded, and shape in the womb of their counsel, and grow ripe, and get up to be brought forth, that accordingly they suffer not their counsel, to go through with the resolution and direction, as if it depended on them; further take the matter back into their declare hands, and make it out to the world, that the decrees and final directions (which, because they beg et forth, with prudence and power, are resembled to Pallas armed) proceeded from themselves; and not only from their authority, but (the more to bestow reputation to themselves) from their head and device.